Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO12’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO12’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit; freely branching habit with strong lateral branches; early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a long period time; dense and hardy inflorescences with large white-colored sterile flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LC NO12’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Hydrangea Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/973,658

Filed: Oct. 17, 2019

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S.Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Inventor/Assignee, Mr. Alex Frederick Schoemakerof Boskoop, The Netherlands on Oct. 19, 2018, application number2018/2640. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commerciallyreferred to as a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘LC NO12’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Hydrangea plants with uniformplant habit and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2015 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of Hydrangeapaniculata ‘Silver Dollar’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVP Pinky’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,166, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangeaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LC NO12’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LC NO12’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit with strong lateral branches.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in        flower for a long period time.    -   4. Dense and hardy inflorescences with large white-colored        sterile flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Silver Dollar’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Silver Dollar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger and sturdier        lateral branches than plants of ‘Silver Dollar’.    -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more        intense deep pink in color with development than sterile flowers        of plants of ‘Silver Dollar’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘DVP Pinky’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of ‘DVP Pinky’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘DVP Pinky’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are distally        more rounded than and not as pointed as inflorescences of plants        of ‘DVP Pinky’.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more dense        than inflorescences of plants of ‘DVP Pinky’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeapaniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘VanilleFraise’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of        ‘Vanille Fraise’.    -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more        intense deep pink in color with development than sterile flowers        of plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘LC NO12’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typicalinflorescences (top of sheet) and typical leaves (bottom of sheet) of‘LC NO12’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the late summer in 21-cm containers in anoutdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 35° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from about 12° C. to 22° C. Plants of the newHydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when thephotographs and description were taken. As a Hardy or PanicledHydrangea, plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated withaluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO12’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver            Dollar’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘DVP Pinky’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,166.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 120 days            at temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            uniform plant habit; overall plant shape, upright broad            inverted triangular; strong and sturdy stems; moderately            vigorous growth habit and moderate to high growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 80.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 56 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—About 13 lateral branches develop per            plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.        -   Length.—About 32.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Texture.—When developing, moderately pubescent; fully            developed, woody.        -   Aspect.—Upright to about 30° from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.        -   Color.—When developing: Upper surface, close to 177D; lower            surface, close to 195B to 195C. Developed: Close to N199C to            N199D; proximally, close to 200B to 200C; when woody, close            to 199B and 200A to 200B.        -   Lenticels.—Density: Moderate; none observed on developing            stems. Size, developed stems: About 1.5 mm by 0.75 mm.            Color, developed stems: Close to 165B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.        -   Length.—About 8.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate to acute.        -   Base.—Rounded, occasionally short attenuate or truncate.        -   Margin.—Serrate; coarsely undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A; venation,            close to N170B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146D; venation, close to 193B, distally, tinged with            close to 179D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent;            matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 195B to 195C; towards            the edges, close to 181B to 181C. Color, lower surface:            Close to 196B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and smaller            inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles;            panicles dense and broadly conical to roughly deltoid in            shape; sterile flowers face upright to outwardly and            slightly drooping depending on their position in the            inflorescence; fertile flowers face mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet to slightly moldy.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering begins in the midsummer            and is continuous until late summer in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about six weeks on            the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last            about five days on the plant, fertile flowers not            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 1,200            sterile flowers and about 1,100 fertile flowers per panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 20.2 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 16.4 cm.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            1.25 cm. Shape: Broadly cup-shaped. Color: Close to 150D.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to 157D; immature            calyx, close to 193C.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.7 cm.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 9 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or            occasionally five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About            2.75 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex:            Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture            and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D.            Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D;            color does not change with development.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About            2 mm. Shape: Ovate, slightly concave. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155C; color does not            change with development. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 155C; color does not change with            development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically            four or occasionally five arranged in a single whorl.            Length: About 1.35 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Broadly            obovate to roughly orbicular; flat to slightly concave.            Apex: Shallowly emarginate. Base: Broadly attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 155A. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 155A; with subsequent development, color becoming            closer to 50B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155A;            with subsequent development, color becoming closer to            between 53B and 185A.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1.25 mm.            Shape: Broadly deltoid. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base:            Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 193C. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to between 145D and            150D; color does not change with development.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45°            from branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to 157D.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:            About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30°            from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to 157D.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament            color: Close to NN155B. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther            shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 156D. Pistils: To            date, pistil development has not been observed on sterile            flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About ten. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament            color: Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther            shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155A strongly            tinged with close to 186D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 156D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower:            Typically three or occasionally two. Pistil length: About            1.25 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to            155C. Style length: About 0.75 mm. Style color: Close to            155D. Ovary color: Close to 157B.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on            plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production    conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed    have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 5 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO12’ asillustrated and described.